The feature directorial debut of Anna Zlokovic, the body horror film Appendage made its world debut at the SXSW Film Festival earlier this year, and now it’s set to receive a wider release through the Hulu streaming service on October 2nd. With that date less than a week away, we have the trailer embedded above to help you decide whether or not Appendage is a movie you’ll be watching this Halloween season. Check it out!
Scripted by Zlokovic, who also produced the film alongside Alex Familian and Katrina Kudlick, Appendage tells the following story: Hannah, a young fashion designer, seems fine on the surface, but secretly struggles with debilitating self-doubt. Soon these buried feelings begin to make Hannah physically sick and sprout into a ferocious growth on her body: The Appendage. As her health continues to decline, The Appendage begins to fuel her anxieties – her perceived lack of talent at work, her deteriorating relationships with her boyfriend and best friend, and her parents’ lack of love and understanding. At her breaking point, Hannah makes a shocking discovery—there are others out there like her.
Hadley Robinson (The Pale Blue Eye) stars as Hannah and is joined in the cast by Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek), Deborah Rennard (Dallas), Kausar Mohammed (4400), Brandon Mychal Smith (Let It Shine), Pat Dortch (Atlanta), and Annie Pisapia (Fresh Kills).
The film was developed by 20th Digital Studio, with David Worthen Brooks, Arbi Pedrossian, and Jenna Cavelle serving as executive producers. Production services were carried out by Katrina Kudlick of Fever Dream Studios. Emma Buerklin is a co-producer.
Since the SXSW premiere, 14 reviews of Appendage have shown up on Rotten Tomatoes, and the film currently has a 64% fresh rating. Positive reactions say the film is “wicked good fun” and features “fantastic creature design”, while negative reactions say the execution of the concept is lacking. One negative review suggests the story would have worked better as a short – and Appendage does happen to be a feature expansion of a short film that Zlokovic made a few years ago.
We’ll have the chance to watch Appendage and form our own opinions on the film very soon.
What did you think of the Appendage trailer? Will you be watching this movie next month? Let us know by leaving a comment below.